A head-to-head comparison of FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF and VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
First Trust operates a broad multi-strategy ETF platform with 50 funds spanning allocation, income, alternatives, and thematic investing. The issuer focuses heavily on specialized income strategies, including dividend funds, covered call strategies (Buffer series), and sector-specific income plays, alongside factor-based and alternative investments. Notable tickers like FDN (tech), FAN (clean energy), and the Buffer series (BUFD, BUFQ, BUFR) reflect the issuer's emphasis on income generation and downside protection strategies across diverse market segments.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on ACYN.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
VegaShares operates a focused suite of two income-focused ETFs designed to generate regular distributions through options strategies and dividend investing. The firm's lineup includes ODTE and VAIE, both emphasizing yield generation for investors seeking regular cash flow. With a specialized niche in options-based and dividend income strategies, VegaShares targets investors prioritizing distributions over capital appreciation.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VAIE.
FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF
VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF
Issuer
First Trust
VegaShares
Last Close
$20.69 as of July 31, 2026
$24.38 as of July 31, 2026
Distribution yield
10.38%
16.64%
Distribution Safety Score™
50
50
Expense ratio
—
0.74%
AUM
$1.36B
$19.7M
Distribution frequency
Monthly
Weekly
Underlying index
—
NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index
Objective
—
Autocallable Income
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
02/24/2026
05/12/2026
Last dividend
$0.1790
$0.0780
Ex-dividend date
07/01/2026
07/23/2026
Bottom lineChoose ACYN if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VAIE if you want to maximize current income — roughly 16.64%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: VAIE's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while ACYN keeps full price exposure.
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
ACYN has outpaced VAIE over the year to date, posting a 5.40% total return against 0.50%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 31, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2026” measures every fund from May 12, 2026 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window.
Quick verdict
ACYN (FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF) and VAIE (VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
VAIE offers the higher yield at 16.64% vs 10.38% for ACYN. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
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On a $10,000 investment, ACYN would generate roughly $86.50/month, while VAIE would produce $138.67/month, at current distribution rates.
ACYN yield10.38%
VAIE yield16.64%
Monthly diff on $10K$52.17
Cost & efficiency
VAIE charges a 0.74% expense ratio — roughly $740 over 10 years on $10,000 (simplified, not compounded). ACYN has not published an expense ratio, so a direct cost comparison isn't possible.
VAIE ER0.74%
Strategy & risk
ACYN is an ETF, while VAIE tracks NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index with an autocallable income approach.
Fund details
ACYN is managed by First Trust (launched 02/24/2026) with $1.36B in assets. VAIE is managed by VegaShares (launched 05/12/2026) with $19.7M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is ACYN or VAIE better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VAIE currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between ACYN and VAIE?
ACYN (FT Vest Laddered Autocallable Barrier & Income ETF) is an ETF, while VAIE (VegaShares US Equity Autocallable Income ETF) tracks NYSE U.S. 500 Adaptive Vol Autocallable Index with an autocallable income approach. They are issued by First Trust and VegaShares respectively.
Can I hold both ACYN and VAIE?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, ACYN or VAIE?
VAIE charges a 0.74% expense ratio. ACYN has not published an expense ratio, so a direct fee comparison isn't possible.
How much income does $10,000 in ACYN vs VAIE generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in ACYN would generate roughly $86.50 per month ($1,038.00 annually). The same in VAIE would produce about $138.67 per month ($1,664.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, ACYN or VAIE?
ACYN has outpaced VAIE over the year to date, posting a 5.40% total return against 0.50%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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